Jean Chretien shores up Liberal support in battleground British Columbia

VANCOUVER – Jean Chretien says people make mistakes and say stupid things, but that doesn’t mean they should have to spend the rest of their lives in the penalty box.

The former prime minister was responding to questions about the recent spate of candidates from across the political spectrum who have dropped out of the election over controversial comments dredged up on social media.

Chretien lent some star power to the Liberals’ B.C. campaign during a visit to Vancouver on Thursday.

The Grits are hoping to make inroads on the West Coast, despite the province’s tendency to swing sharply between the NDP and Conservative ends of the political spectrum.

The party had a dismal showing in the province during the last federal election, losing three of its five seats.

Incumbents Hedy Fry and Joyce Murray managed to hold onto their downtown Vancouver ridings in 2011; both are running for re-election.